Battle of the Bridge Pt II! Antonio Conte and Thomas Tuchel are both SENT OFF after furious bust-up in London derby… as Spurs and Chelsea bosses clash at full-time when shaking hands, having celebrated wildly in front of each other
- Antonio Conte and Thomas Tuchel twice had to be separated at Stamford Bridge
- The Tottenham and Chelsea managers first clashed after the visitors’ equaliser
- German Tuchel suggested Kai Havertz was fouled in the build-up to the goal
- Referee Anthony Taylor played on as Rodrigo Bentancur brought Havertz down
- Tuchel celebrated Chelsea’s second goal by sprinting past a distraught Conte
- The game finished 2-2 and another clash followed, with both managers sent off
Thomas Tuchel and Antonio Conte were both sent off after two physical clashes during Tottenham’s draw with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.
The two managers squared off following Pierre-Emile Hojberg’s equaliser after Tuchel suggested Kai Havertz was fouled in the build-up, before ill-scenes could be seen after the full time whistle.
The two were eventually shown red cards by referee Anthony Taylor as the latest edition of what has become a sour London derby finished 2-2.
The first clash was triggered by a debate on whether Pierre-Emile Hojberg’s goal should have stood because of a suggested foul by Rodrigo Bentancur on Kai Havertz, which wasn’t given by Taylor.
Both managers and one member of each’s coaching staff were shown a yellow card for the incident.
After Tuchel had sprinted past Conte on his way to celebrate Chelsea’s second goal, Tottenham secured another equaliser, this time in the last minute, and the battle was on again off the pitch.
Following an attempted handshake, things again kicked off with the two once again squaring up, each in the other’s face before they were once more separated and received their marching orders.
Antonio Conte (left) and Thomas Tuchel (right) clashed at Stamford Bridge this afternoon
Tuchel first complained about a potential foul on Kai Havertz in the build-up to the equaliser
Tuchel ran past Conte, who was head in hands, after Reece James scored minutes later
The two managers got physical again after full time, and both were ultimately sent off
Jamie Carragher, who was on co-commentary for the game on Sky, revelled in the fight.
On the first goal, he said: ‘People say they don’t like scenes like that, but I must say, I love that, watching that [Conte and Tuchel clashing after goal]. I want more of it!’
The goal was checked on VAR, but the foul was adjudged to have taken place in a previous phase of play.
The German and Italian went head-to-head in more ways than one at Stamford Bridge
There were also debates of whether Richarlison was offside during the goal. ‘He is offside, but it’s whether he’s interfering with play,’ Carragher added.
‘The ball goes past his foot but it doesn’t block the goalkeeper’s view – that’s a goal, rightly so.
‘It’s not even the next phase, it looked five or six phases back. I think it was definitely one they’d be frustrated about in normal time in the game.
‘He gets a touch of the ball but he has to go through the side of the ankle initially, which I felt he did.’
Tuchel said after the game that he hopes there are no bad feelings between he and Conte
Geoff Shreeves, who was on the touchline during the incident, said: ‘What caused the flash point, I’m not entirely sure, but I can tell you Antonio Conte celebrating didn’t seem to be the cause of Thomas Tuchel’s ire.
‘As soon as that goal went in, he was straight to the fourth official, clearly unhappy about something that happened in the build-up.’
Chelsea re-took the lead just minutes later, with Reece James scoring.
Tuchel could be seen sprinting down the touchline to celebrate, passing a glum Conte on the way, who was head in hands.
Conte seemed to take exception to Tuchel’s handshake after the full time whistle in London
The two squared off once again, with things getting even more physical than previously
A melee followed and both managers will not have to serve a suspension in the coming games
However the worst was yet to come, with the two clashing once again following the full time whistle after Tuchel was angered by Conte’s refusal to look his opposite number in the eyes.
Both were ambushed by staff and players in an attempt to prevent things going over the top, but that didn’t stop both being given their marching orders.
Carragher added at the end: ‘What a league we’ve got.
‘That just sums up the Premier League on and off the pitch. Absolutely fantastic, can’t take your eyes off it for a minute.’
After the game, Tuchel said: ‘Both goals should not stand. Only one team deserved to win, that was us.
Tuchel and Conte both lost their cool on several occasions, and paid the price for their actions
Harry Kane netted a last-minute equaliser for Tottenham after they had twice trailed
‘I don’t know how many tactical fouls Hojbjerg and Bentancur did today. Since when can we pull hair in a football match? They checked and nothing happened, absolutely ridiculous.’
On the scuffle at the end of the game, he said: ‘I thought when you shake hands you look into each other’s eyes. Antonio had other ideas. Another poor decision from the referee today.’
And on his celebration for Reece James’ goal, added: ‘In the middle I thought I should not do this but sometimes a match gets you and this one really sucked me in. It was pure joy, it may offend our opponents but they did the same.’
‘I don’t have bad feelings and I’m sure he won’t. It was so close and such an intense match and both dugouts were very close.
‘I enjoyed it [the derby intensity] and I think he did too. Nothing bad.’
Antonio Conte said: ‘In my opinion it is better to talk about the game.
‘I don’t want to comment on the situation, if there is a problem that is between me and him and not anyone else.’
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